TriMet sets ridership records in Portland, Ore.

Published: June 13, 2011, 11:38 PM

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The largest transit agency in Oregon set some records in May.

The Oregonian reports that TriMet saw record ridership for MAX and Westside Express Service commuter rail in the Portland area with more than 8.8 million riders. It also experienced its first boost in weekday bus passengers in more than two years.

TriMet spokeswoman Mary Fetsch attributed the growing ridership partly to gas prices still hovering around $4 a gallon and more people commuting to work with the improving job market in the metro area.

Last Saturday, TriMet moved more people than any day in the agency's history. There were more than 285,000 boardings on buses and MAX on Grand Floral Parade day for the Portland Rose Festival -- more than a 37 percent increase over a typical Saturday.